Remember back when I was asking for advice on writing to a theme? Well if you didn't read that I entered a short story course run by a writing group and I've just got an email telling me I've won!It was only the 2nd competition that I've entered in ages as I was trying to get back into writing and taking it seriously for the first time. So happy!The prize is a course in north Wales, no idea how I'll get there especially being alone in a strange place but I won and I could go (havn't heard what's happening with the prize just yet) so happy

Congrats! When I won Swanwick the first time I didn't know anyone. I soon made friends, like Ceka ( I introduced her to TB) and another, both of whom became very good friends and we are regularly in touch. Enjoy your prize!

Oh no! Try, if you can. They could help you nail your dialogue and answer sooo many questions. I'm sure other writers would give their right arm to go... or maybe their left (depends which is more important).

Train bookings come out 6-9 months in advance, put those times on your calendar and keep trying, and book early, MUCH cheaper.

I had to change three times to get to mine. And that was with an enormous case with all my meds and stuff and going somewhere I had no control over the food etc - actually I did become unconscious the first night with the stress of the journey although everyone lovely and luckily came round enough to drink glucose and got away with it.

To echo the above: try to make the course. Seven hours on a train sounds like an opportunity for writing time. All those changes could mean lots of different people to share the journey with, eavesdropping to absorb dialogue.